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ewish Presf
Serving Nebraska attd Iowa Since 1920
U Biran. STBS, JoiM •, ISM
VoLLSm No.41 O—h»
LOVE Will honor Lee Jane, Sol Parsow
By Bert Lewis '(This column includes opinion and mucli love)
When the League of Volunteers for the Elderly recently announced plans for a fund-raising event, they promised more details would soon follow. As promised, those in charge of special categories pi 'A LOVE affair^ have dnnounced it will honor a special couple. ' For this, the first event of its kind in the Blumkin Home history; Lee Jane and Sol Parsow have been selected as the honorary couple. The Parsows are being recognized for their maqy years of service to the elderly of our Jewish commuihity. At the beginning, nearly 24 years ago, when LOVE was started, Lee Jane was part of the effort. Bhe participated in every project and was chairman ^for three yeeo^. In addition, she shared chsurmanshlp with Miriam Simon for one year. In an interview some years ago, Lee Jane's remarks were modest, insisting that "I get more rout of it than I put into it." That comment notwithstanding, she has put in untold quantities of love, ^warmth, interest and obvious caring. Sol's interest was no doubt stimulated by the [flurry of activity, and he too became more than mildly fascinated with the things people were volunteering to do for older citizens. When his own mother, the late Mollie Parsowsky, became a resident of the Sher Home (the predecessor to the Blumkin Home) where LOVE, began, his involvement escalated greatly. Lee Jane and Sol have demonstrated through their deeds for these past two-plus decades, how much they care. It is for all of their unselfish devotion of time and energy that LOVE chose to name them honorary couple of A LOVE AFFAIR. As for LOVE, it's impossible to say too much. The people, women and.men, who have signed on as volunteers, stand ready to give of themselves whenever asked. Whether it's a sing-along, movies, a discussion 'group, mending, painting, operating the gift shop or the annual Pan tournament, there are willing participants. The co-chairmen of this LOVE Affair project hope it is the beginning of an annual event. Lorrie Bernstein and Florence Brody both are quick to remind everyone how important the Rose ^lumkin Homeli' to this JeWish community and how gratifying it is to know everyone can do something for it« residents.
Father's Day Gift suggestions Pages 5-10
Synod begins in Holy Lan4; first in 2 millennia By Naomi Segal JERUSALEM (JTA) - The Catholic Church has convened a synod here, the first to take place in the Holy Land in 2,000 years. Church leaders and Christian intellectuals from Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian autonomous zones are participating in the event, which will include a series of discussiont: and meetings on social, religious and political alTairs that is expected to last several years. - ' The official opening was marked with a religious ceremony nt the Beit Jala seminary, near Bethlehem. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah, the chief Roman Catholic clergyman in the region, is presiding over the synod, which will also include Greek Catholics, Armenian Catholics, Syrian Catholics, Maronites and Chaldeans. All of the churches represented at the synod recognize the authority of the pope. ' Father Rafiq Khoury, secretary-general of the synod, said that at its conclusion, participants will produce a document on the role of Christians today in the Holy Land. ^ Some of the meetings are being held in Jerusalem, which has been at the center of renewed debate as Israel and the Palestinians are set to discuss its final status in negotiations beginning in 1996.
Synod not expected to deal with political issues Some said they expect the synod to address political issues such as the status oT Jerusalem and Palestinian rights. But Khoury said the synod would not directly deal with political issues connected to the peace process. "Naturally, Jerusalem is at the center of the initiative," he said, "but this is not a political gathering, it is a spiritual and religious one."
Teen leaders selected for Federation honors By Morris Maline
'Deborah Goldstein and Stephanie DePorte have l)een selected as Jewish Teen Leaders. They will be honored at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Omaha, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jewish Community Center theater. A reception will follow the program in the Dan and Est,her Gbrdman Center for Jewish Learning. The Jewish Teen Leadership award is given annually to two teenagers who have exhibited outstanding leadershif^ abilities either in BBYO or a synagogue youth program. Only high school students are eUgible. Nominated by the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization, Ms. Goldstein was recognized for her involvement in Jewish organizatioM and her high degree of creativity and new ideas resulting in "incredible programs." Nominated by Temple Israel, Ms. DePorte was cited for her scholarship, maturity, vision, and camaraderie while holding leadership roles. In addition to the recognition of honorees, the annual meeting will elect Federation and agency ofticers and directors.
Debate boils over aid to PLO By Matthew Dorf WASHINGTON (JTA) — Should the Palestine Liberation Organization continue to receive American foreign aid? Congress will answer that question before the end of this month. Meantime, the issue is shaping up to be the latest battleground both for proponents and opponents of the Israeli government's current peace policies. The Middle East Peace Facilitation Act — which allows U.S. aid to go to Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority, permits American dipfomats to talk to PLO officials and allows PLO members to travel to the United States r— was enacted after Israel and the PLO signed their historic Declaration of Principles in September 1993 in Washington. The legislation, which waives previously enacted statutes prohibiting contact with the PLO. expires June 30. • There is little dgubt that Congress will extend the waivers required to allow the money to flow and the meetings to take place. The United States pledged $500 million to the PLO after it signed its peace accords with Israel. Arafat has already received about $100 million. What remains to be decided, however, is what strings Congreas will attach to the PLO's aid and how long the waivers will last. Jewish activists on all sides of the debate hope to seize on the limited time remaining to sway Congreas to their positions. A barrage of activists — from the pro-aid Israel Policy Forum, which has slated a satellite hookup with Israeli Prine Minuter Yitzhak Rabin, to 100 Orthodox rabbis vehemently oppoeed to the Israel-
PLO peace accords — plan a no-holds-barred campaign on Capitol Hill in the coming weeks., "When your former enemy is in the process of becoming your ally and you feel you are increasingly sharing interests with this former enemy, it becomes important to encourage that movement," Said Jonathan Jacoby, executive vice president of the Israel Policy Forum. In contrast, opponents argue that Arafat has had his chance and continues to violate his commitments with Israel. "By violating every aspect of his commitments proves that Arafat is not willing to live at peace with Israel," said Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America. As part of its 1993 Middle East Facilitation Act, Congress decided to tie ongoing aid to the PLO to its compliance with its agreements with Israel. As a result, the legislation links funding for the PLO to its commitment to re' ugnize Israel's right to exist, to amend its covenant calling for the destruction of Israel, to renounce terrorism, to refrain from violence and to ensure that all PLO factions comply with the agreements. As time runs out on this bill, the cheurmen of the House and Senate oommittees that deal .with foreign afTeurs, Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and Rep. Betxiamin Oilman (R-N.Y.), have begun to consider changes. Congressional aides involved in the drafting of the legitlatioD do not expect a public debate on the measure. "Once the Isngusgs is worked out sod aeesptsd by committee msmben we will bring it to the flow for a vota," one aids said.